Fresh batch of 235 pilgrims leaves for Amarnath Yatra

Jammu: Amid tight security, a batch of 235 pilgrims today left for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas. As many as 3,31,352 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the shrine till yesterday during this year's pilgrimage.

The batch of 175 men, 59 women and one child left in a motorcade of five vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar base camp here at 4:35 AM, a police official said.

Amid tight security arrangements provided by CRPF, the convoy has already crossed Kud in Udhampur district on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, he said.

The pilgrims would reach the twin base camps at Pahalgam and Baltal by this evening, he added.

With today's batch, as many as 47,073 pilgrims have so far left from the Jammu base camp for the shrine.

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon. Devotees call the stalagmite structure the 'Holy Lingam' and believe it symbolises mystical powers of Lord Shiva.